Welcome to the Fire Information Blog for the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP).

Monday, June 26, 2017

Multiple New Lightning-Caused Wildfires in South Central Oregon

Multiple New Lightning-Caused
Wildfires in South Central Oregon

Lakeview,
Ore. - Lightning storms passing through South Central Oregon have started small
lightning related fires in the Fremont-Winema National Forest and Lakeview
District BLM.

South
Central Oregon has received approximately 960 strikes resulting in 23 confirmed
incidents.

The
South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be conducting aerial reconnaissance flights to
assist with detection of new lightning related fires. The reconnaissance
flights are part of the SCOFMP operating plan after lightning storms.

These
fires were aggressively suppressed from the ground by numerous hand-crews, engines,
dozers and water tenders. Air support included helicopters, SEATS and air
tankers. They will continue water drops until dark and resume Tuesday morning.

The Medicine 2 Fire located
5 miles east of Beatty, OR remains at 4.8 acres. Crews worked hard through
Sunday night and early Monday morning to complete a containment line and
are now working to mop-up.

Progress has been made on the 65
acre Mill Creek Fire. This fire is located 5 miles NE of Beatty on
the north side of Spodue Mountain. The east and west sides of the
perimeter have lines in place. Resources will continue work to strengthen
and deepen these lines. This will create a barrier to keep the fire within
the established lines.

The management of the Gerber
Flat Fire under IC Scott Havel of The Bureau of Land Management is 200
acres and still has the possibility of growth. High winds today pushed the
fire toward Gerber Road. Burnout operations will continue off Gerber Road
between Stan-H Springs Campground Road to the east. Law enforcement will
be assisting with traffic control.

As a precaution, we have staged
additional resources from outside the SCOFMP area to assist with new fire starts.

Highway
140 between Klamath Falls and Lakeview will have increased fire traffic- Please
use caution when driving between Bly and Beatty and on Gerber road.